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Diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies
Author(s) -
Radaelli F.,
Cortelezzi A.,
Zocchi L.,
Castag D.,
Baldini L.,
Colombi M.,
Mozzana R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hematological oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-1069
pISSN - 0278-0232
DOI - 10.1002/hon.2900040205
Subject(s) - neutropenia , medicine , hematologic disease , antifungal , absolute neutrophil count , antibiotics , hematologic neoplasms , disease , surgery , intensive care medicine , dermatology , chemotherapy , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
A diagnosis of deep‐seated mycosis was made in 54 patients with hematologic malignancies, severe neutropenia and fever, based on a set of clinical and laboratory criteria. Standardized antifungal treatment was started in 31 patients who seven days after onset of fever had not responded to antibiotics; the fungal infection was cured in 13, all of whom had a simultaneous remission of neutropenia, whereas the other 18 who did not respond to antifungal treatment, all had a falling or static neutrophil count. None of the 23 patients who were given no or inadequate antifungal treatment survived regardless of the neutrophil count and/or phase of the hematologic disease. We discuss the suitability of utilizing empirical criteria for a diagnosis of disseminated fungal infection as a basis for starting antifungal therapy in this type of patient.